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When young MB leaders of Canada met in a series of “open space” meetings in 2001 to discuss “really important issues” for their lives, one of their top five concerns was “addressing pornography in the church.”
But where does one begin to address this concern? Pornography is a huge topic. It’s pervasive and powerful and therefore scary for us as Christians. Culturally, the cat that escaped the bag of the modern sexual revolution has turned into a tiger, hiding its claws but grinning as porn becomes increasingly mainstream and accessible on the Web. We know it is also enveloping many Christians.
We’re beginning the way the articles came together for us, with testimonies from two MB pastors. (Both these men are very open with their stories but we have agreed that their names should be withheld here.) Spiritual director Garry Schmidt, a member of Northview Community Church currently residing in California, provides a helpful word of understanding and hope. Sherryl Koop, Youth Ministry director, helped us think about this issue and suggested resources.
Pornography is not exclusively a male problem, of course, nor is it important only to pastors. We trust that all of our readers will relate to the path of healing – through openness, confession, accountability, cherishing one’s spouse, and embracing what the Spirit is doing in our lives – that is laid out by these writers.
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